England left with awkward record after Ireland claim latest Test win

Ireland secured a historical Test triumph implicit Zimbabwe, leaving England arsenic the lone squad ne'er to triumph a Test lucifer connected Zimbabwean soil, to adhd to their awkward record

England are present the lone Test broadside to ne'er onshore a triumph successful Zimbabwe aft Ireland's historical triumph connected Monday.

Ireland secured a 68-run triumph implicit Zimbabwe successful Bulawayo, marking their maiden Test triumph successful the country. The effect extended Ireland’s caller bully signifier successful red-ball cricket, making it their 3rd consecutive Test win.

However, the triumph besides highlighted a alternatively awkward statistic for rivals England. With Ireland’s success, England present basal arsenic the lone to person ne'er won a Test lucifer connected Zimbabwean soil. Despite being 1 of cricket’s powerhouses, England's nonaccomplishment to unafraid a Test triumph successful Zimbabwe stems from their solitary bid successful the state backmost successful 1996-97.

The two-match bid ended successful a 0-0 draw. This places them successful an antithetic spot, with adjacent cricket’s newer Test-playing nations specified arsenic Afghanistan and Bangladesh having won successful Zimbabwe.

Ireland’s triumph was built connected a coagulated all-round performance, with Matthew Humphreys starring the complaint with the ball. The left-arm spinner took six wickets for 57 runs successful the 2nd innings, registering Ireland’s best-ever Test bowling figures.

His efforts dismantled Zimbabwe’s little order. As a result, Ireland defended their 298-run people successfully. The last time started with Zimbabwe astatine 183-7, inactive needing 109 runs. Humphreys struck early, dismissing Newman Nyamhuri earlier moving done the tail.

Zimbabwe extended their red-ball struggles to 10 consecutive matches without a win. Ireland’s erstwhile triumph was besides against Zimbabwe successful 2023. For Zimbabwe, the nonaccomplishment added to their mounting Test woes. They person present gone 10 matches without a triumph successful the format.

Their past triumph was against Afghanistan successful 2021. Despite promising idiosyncratic performances, the squad has struggled to drawstring unneurotic accordant results. Pacers Blessing Muzarabani (7-58) and Richard Ngarava (4-55) were among the fewer positives for Zimbabwe. Opening batsman Nathan Welch besides scored 90 runs successful the archetypal innings, but the hosts yet fell short.

Ireland’s triumph means that each different afloat ICC member, barring England, has present won astatine slightest 1 Test successful Zimbabwe. India, Australia, West Indies, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan person each enjoyed occurrence successful Zimbabwe.

England’s lone Test bid successful Zimbabwe took spot astir 3 decades ago. The 1996-97 circuit saw 2 matches, some ending successful draws.

Since their lone Test bid successful Zimbabwe astir 3 decades ago, England person ne'er returned for a Test series, mostly owed to governmental tensions and scheduling constraints. While England person enjoyed occurrence successful assorted parts of the cricketing world, their nonaccomplishment to unafraid a triumph successful Zimbabwe remains a peculiar footnote successful their Test history.

With nary contiguous plans for an England Test circuit successful Zimbabwe, their hold for a triumph connected Zimbabwean ungraded is acceptable to continue.